Ex-Enron Accounting Chief To Plead Guilty: Reports

Ex-Enron accounting chief to plead guilty: reports

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Wed Dec 28, 2005 09:47 AM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Richard Causey, Enron Corp.'s former chief accountant, is expected on Wednesday to plead guilty to at least one criminal charge related to the energy trader's collapse, the Wall Street Journal said in its online edition on Tuesday, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.

The Houston Chronicle on its Web site cited sources close to the case as also saying Causey is expected to plead guilty. A hearing is set for Wednesday at 2 p.m. CST (2000 GMT) before U.S. District Judge Sim Lake, the Chronicle said.

Reid Weingarten, a lawyer for Causey, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Causey's cooperation might be damaging for Enron's former chairman, Kenneth Lay, and former president, Jeffrey Skilling.

A jury trial of the three men on conspiracy, fraud and other charges over alleged accounting misdeeds at Enron is expected to begin next month. All three previously pleaded not guilty.

Enron filed for bankruptcy protection in December 2001. Lay and Skilling each served as Enron's chief executive.